bad sectors - can i still use the drive?

[ja3h]

Hey, i've got a 400gb sata hd lying around gathering dust.

I installed it a while ago but it had bad sectors and no warranty so i just left it. Just wondering if i can use it or not? I'm running out of disk space and no more dvd's left.

I remember reading somewhere that when xp formats the drive it isolates the problem?

thanks

 

[rpstewart]

If a drive develops bad sectors these are recorded and avoided by the OS when writing to the disk. The problem comes when the drive develops more during normal use in which case the data from these sectors is lost.

You can use the drive however I would be a touch suspect of it.

 

[Justintime]

Aye, bad sectors are'nt usually a good sign and i'd forever be wary of the drive.